Little recovers quickly, will likely play Monday

ST. LOUIS -- Defensive end Leonard Little, the St. Louis Rams' sack leader, is expected to return to the lineup only a month after tearing a ligament in his left knee.

Little practiced for the second straight day Friday and coach Mike Martz said all signs pointed to him playing Monday night against the Saints. Little, who is among the league leaders with nine sacks despite missing three games, was injured Nov. 18 against New England and recuperated without surgery.

"He's moving on it real well," coach Mike Martz said. "I was real pleased with what he's doing. He looks like he'll be ready to play."

On Thursday, Martz said it was important to see how Little felt after a day on the field.

"He was a little bit tender this morning, a little bit sore," Martz said. "But he worked right through it."

The news was not so good about safety Rich Coady, who has a sprained ankle and didn't practice for the second straight day. Coady tried some light running on a treadmill.

"Rich has not progressed as well as I'd like," Martz said. "The ankle he's got, those things get better fast.

"I would expect he'll be available, now whether he starts or not we'll have to see."

Coady has started the last three games at strong safety in place of Adam Archuleta, who has been sidelined with two concussions and has already been ruled out for the Saints game. If Coady can't play, cornerback Dexter McCleon will move to free safety and free safety Kim Herring will move to strong safety.

"We're just thin, that's all," Martz said. "It would be hard to lose any more guys, but as long as Rich is available for the game it's all right."

Coady said he's slowly feeling better.

"The trainers have done a great job of getting me where I'm at today, so if I continue to improve I think it'll be a good chance of playing on Monday," Coady said.